Birding and other distractions

A Western Reef Heron was found near Caernarfon last Saturday (6th), a first for Britain no less. Somewhat belatedly we travelled there yesterday, arriving in the area at 9 pm. I'd booked a hotel in Tremadog for the overnight stay. At breakfast this morning news came in that the heron had been seen near Caernarfon castle, a 20 minute drive away. The bird was feeding on the far bank of the river and gave excellent views. It was in immaculate plumage, a very smart bird that we watched from the car park with other birders. At times it was seen together with a Little Egret allowing comparative views. After that we drove south to Ganllwyd, a National Trust reserve of wooded hillside alongside the river Gamlan. It was getting late in the season though I was hoping to see a Wood Warbler, and fortunately found a singing male near the car park. Nearby a pair of Redstart showed quite well. By now it was 1 pm so we decided to head back. The drive back via Snowdonia was very scenic though it to...

My first visit to Bredhurst for over a month, so long overdue. I was hoping to find a Red Kite as so many were reported elsewhere in the county, albeit mainly E Kent. However, no luck at Bredhurst this afternoon. I saw no reptiles in PV though admittedly not the best time of day to look for them. There were 3-4 Painted Ladies, so hopefully a good omen for the species this year. TF had six Adders, three of each sex I think. One was a sub-adult female. Only one Slow-worm was found. A Small Tortoiseshell was the best find in terms of butterflies in TF. Day Valley Two male Adders Male and female Adder  Female Adder? Sub-adult female Adder Slow-worm female  Small Tortoiseshell 

Not sure where to go this morning then news came through of a Red-breasted Flycatcher at Dungeness so that provided a solution. The bird was in the moat with about four other birders there when we arrived. It was a sunny morning and the flycatcher was quite active, singing on and off, a very pleasant song. It occasionally showed in a gap in the bushes close to the ground.  Although a male it didn't have a red-orange breast, just a creamy throat and thus was probably a first summer bird. Afterwards we walked round the Long Pits trying to see one of the Spotted Flycatchers that had been reported, though had no luck. There were a couple of singing Lesser Whitethroats though it was generally quiet. Four-spotted Chasers were near the water, also some Red-eyed Damselflies. Butterflies included my first Small Heath and Brown Argus of the year. Near the end of the day we visited the RSPB reserve, checking the new scrape near Boulderwall Farmhouse where a Black-winged Stilt had been reporte...

There were good numbers of waders at the tip of PP at 6:30, especially Turnstones, plus a feeding flock of gulls and terns just offshore. An adult Bald Eagle sat on the beach at the far end. Migrant passerines were generally low in numbers in the adjacent woodland. However, one of the birds that I watched caught my attention as it sported an obvious white eyering and a bluish-grey head. Add to that two white wing-bars, yellowish flanks, and a white belly, all the id features for Blue-headed Vireo. Unfortunately the bird mainly stayed high up in trees, unlike a nearby Black-throated Blue Warbler which was seen at ground level. Later I made another visit to Delaurier Homestead where the Green Heron was seen at close range, and Common Yellowthroat were more obliging than they usually are. Whilst there I learnt that an Ash-throated Flycatcher was still present near Dunes, so I left the homestead sooner than planned. The area for the flycatcher was a 15 minute walk along a permissive path n...